Guide us to remember the words of the Psalmist,
“Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
One who does what is right
and speaks the truth”;[1]after Psalms 15:1-2

Who knows that “when you eat the labor of your hands,
you are praiseworthy”;[2]Psalms 128:2
[who knows] that “he who sows in tears
shall reap in joy”[3]Psalms 126:5 —
because the freedoms we enjoy
are not granted in perpetuity
but must be reclaimed
by each generation.
As our ancestors have planted for us,
so we must plant for others.[4]after Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 23a 53-60, story of Ḥoni haMa’agal
“While it is not for us to complete the task,
neither are we free to desist from them”[5]Rabbi Tarfon, Pirkei Avot 2:16

“Dispense justice for the needy and the orphan”[6]Psalms 82:3 —
for they have no one but their fellow citizens
and because their nation’s wealth
is measured by her values
and not by her vaults.
Bless all of our allies around the world
who share our beliefs.

(“By the rivers of Babylon,
we wept as we remembered Zion…
If I forget thee O Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.”[7]Psalms 137:1-5)

“…The doer of all these
shall never falter.”[8]Psalms 15:5 partial. Cf. Psalms 15:3-5 for the complete admonition. Note, Rabbi Hier’s prayer began with Psalms 15:1-2.

May the days comes soon
“when justice will dwell in the wilderness
and righteousness will abide in the fertile fields
and the work of righteousness will be peace, quietness, and confidence forever.”[9]Isaiah 32:16-17

Amen.

Rabbi Marvin Hier offered this prayer of blessing for Donald Trump and the United States of America on January 20, 2017 at the inauguration day ceremony, whereafter it was entered into the Congressional Record (a U.S. government document in the Public Domain). Misgivings over Rabbi Hier’s presentation of a prayer at this ceremony reflected widely felt opposition within the Jewish community to any normalization of Trump’s unpopular election to the chief executive office. — A.N. Varady, ed.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Printing Office and issued when Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks. At the end of a session of Congress, the daily editions are compiled in bound volumes constituting the permanent edition. Statutory authorization for the Congressional Record is found in Chapter 9 of Title 44 of the United States Code. (wikipedia)

Please reciprocate for any adaptation or redistribution of this work by (1) properly attributing the work to United States Congressional Record and Marvin Hier, (2) clearly indicating the date you accessed the resource and whether any changes have been made (and if so, please be in touch with us and leave a comment below so that we might note your adaptation or improvement), (3) providing a link back to this source, and (4) specifying the Public Domain (17 U.S. Code §105 - Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works) under which this work was shared.

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established."–Psalms 90:17

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